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Gasum said it would refer its dispute with Gazprom Export to arbitration, a move that risks further angering neighbouring Russia as Helsinki prepares to submit its bid for NATO membership on Wednesday.
"Gasum considers that there is an increased risk of gas supply disruption and consequently the import of gas from Russia to Finland may be terminated," it said in a statement.
On Sunday, Russia cut off electricity supplies to Finland overnight after its energy company RAO Nordic demanded payment for the delays, although the dispute was quickly caught up.
Natural gas accounts for about eight percent of Finland's energy consumption, most of which comes from Russia.
In April, Gazprom Export requested that future payments in the supply contract be made in rubles instead of euros.
Gasum rejected the request.
The Finnish group said it was prepared for the possibility of a cut and would "aim to ensure gas availability for its Finnish customers through the Balticconnector gas pipeline."
However, it noted that "transmission capacity constraints may make this difficult."
Gasum CEO Mika Wiljanen said the company "had no choice but to take the contract to arbitration."
Moscow has repeatedly warned Finland that any application for NATO membership would be "a serious mistake with far-reaching consequences".
Several countries that refused to pay Gazprom in rubles to avoid supporting Russia during the war in Ukraine, such as Poland and Bulgaria, have had their gas supplies from Russia cut.
In the rest of the EU, some payments are due in mid-May, when more cuts are expected.
Source: CNA
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